Party brass pleased with primary day

Of the Delaware County's 382,564 registered voters, about 165,805 are Democrats and 174,152 are Republicans, which leaves about 42,607 registered with other parties or without affiliation, according to figures released by the county in late March. (File photo)

While some of the candidates endorsed by local Republican and Democratic officials lost statewide in Tuesday's primary election, party leaders said they were pleased by the local results.

Of the county's 382,564 registered voters, about 165,805 are Democrats and 174,152 are Republicans, which leaves about 42,607 registered with other parties or without affiliation, according to figures released by the county in late March.

The turnout in Delco Wednesday was about 24 percent for Republicans and 13 percent Democrats, according to the unofficial ballot results.

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One of the more noticeable losses on the Republican ticket was in the U.S. Senate race because Steve Welch, the candidate who was endorsed by Gov. Tom Corbett, placed third among five candidates.

Former coal company owner Tom Smith, of Armstrong County, won the Senate race with 297,035 votes and will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., in November.

Welch, a Chester County entrepreneur, garnered 156,776 votes statewide. Welch trailed behind Smith and the second top vote-getter, former longtime state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County, who received 167,796 votes.

The other two Republicans in the five-way race were Bucks County businessman and veterans' advocate David Christian and lawyer Mark Scaringi of Cumberland County. Christian garnered 79,051 votes and Scaringi garnered 51,514 votes.

Though Welch lost overall statewide, Delco GOP Chairman Andy Reilly pointed out that he won his home county and Delco. In Delco, Welch had almost a 10,000-vote lead over Smith.

"As much as we were fond of Steve, the voters have spoken and we'll support Tom," Reilly said.

Both candidates took shots at one another in recent weeks over their past registrations as Democrats. Welch was a Democrat for three years and Smith was one for more than 40 years.

Regarding Smith's former party affiliation, Reilly said, "People change their registration and that's understandable and it doesn't exclude him from getting the nomination. It's really more about the ideas of the candidate."

As far as the Democrats go, the local Democratic Party endorsed Bucks County resident Patrick Murphy, a former U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, for attorney general. Murphy received about 61 percent of the vote in Delco, but lost overall statewide to Kane, a former Lackawanna County prosecutor.

Kane received 372,106 votes statewide and Murphy received 332,147 votes. Landau said Murphy and Kane were both strong candidates and the Delco Democratic Party will throw its support behind Kane now.

Regarding the local legislative races, Reilly pointed to the win of state Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, who received about 81 percent of the vote in the Delaware County portion of his district over tea party challenger Roger Howard, of East Marlborough, Chester County.

The race was a lot closer for Pileggi in the Chester County portion of his district, where he received 51 percent of the vote over Howard's 48 percent.

Reilly highlighted the win of state Rep. Nick Miccarelli, R-162, of Ridley Park, who won the nomination on both Democratic and Republican tickets with more than 700 write-in votes "which is unprecedented."

Miccarelli's Democratic challenger was Ken Harper, who launched a write-in campaign after endorsed candidate Eric Gunlefinger dropped out of the race.

Landau said he was disappointed by Harper's loss. At the same time, he said Harper launched his write-in campaign late.

Landau said the Democrats had success with another write-in candidate. He said Jeremy Fearn will challenge state Rep. Bill Adolph, R-165, of Springfield, in the fall.

Landau said the Democratic Party was pleased that Upper Darby Democrat Sheamus Bonner won in the 163rd Legislative District primary. Bonner received 1,968 votes over his Democratic challenger, Robert Cassidy, who received 793 votes.

"Sheamus won with a huge margin, which is great," Landau said, adding that he believes Bonner will win against longtime incumbent state Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-163, of Upper Darby, in the fall.

Reilly was also pleased with the wins the Delco GOP had in the delegate and alternate delegate races in the 1st and 7th Congressional District races. Seven Delco residents will go to the Republican National Convention at the end of August in Tampa, Fla.

Reilly said the margin for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Delco was one of highest in the state.

Romney received 28,169 votes, or 65.5 percent, in Delco and 464,715 votes, or 58 percent, statewide.